Four new cases of swine flu, India's tally now 63

Four more people in different parts of the country tested positive for the influenza A - H1N1 today, taking the total number of people affected by the flu virus in India to 63. Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 22 international airports.

Four more people in different parts of the country tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) Monday, taking the total number of people affected by the flu virus in India to 63.

The condition of a 66-year-old woman, who contracted the flu from her son, deteriorated and she was put on ventilator in a hospital in Delhi.

"The woman tested positive June 17 and was shifted to Deen Dayal Updhayay Hospital. She is said to have a chronic respiratory illness and her condition deteriorated Sunday and she was put on ventilator. She continues to be on ventilator. A group of experts is attending to her," a health ministry official said.

"Four new cases - two from Delhi and one each from Mumbai and Pune - tested positive for the swine flu in India Monday," the official said.

In Delhi, a 25-year-old man who came from the US and self reported to an identified health facility with complaints of sore throat June 20 was tested positive for the flu.

The second case was of a 29-year-old woman, who travelled from Canada via Belgium and reached Delhi June 18. She has also tested positive for the flu.

In Pune, a 24-year-old man who came from the US via London and reported to the hospital with flu like symptoms tested positive for the virus.

In Mumbai, a 23-year-old woman who came from Melbourne June 19 has also tested positive for the flu.

"All these people have been isolated and are being treated. We are trying to trace their contacts," the official said.

With increasing number of cases in Delhi, the government has sought help from the private hospitals in the capital.

"We have written to all private hospitals asking them to join hands with the government in handling swine flu patients. They have to prepare isolation wards and the government will provide them with the Tamiflu drug. But we are yet to hear from them," said a senior health official in Delhi government.

Meanwhile, of the 63 cases 37 have been discharged after they recovered from the flu. India has reported six indigenous cases where people contracted the flu without going abroad.

World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 44,287 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection from 94 countries. There have been 180 deaths.

Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 22 international airports. 44,691 passengers have been screened on June 21 with 27,345 passengers from affected countries.

A total of 224 doctors and 112 paramedics have been deployed to man 77 counters at these airports. A cumulative total of over 2,200,000 passengers have been screened.